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A survey of U.S. adults fielded from August 20 to September 16, 2024, found that approximately 14 percent of respondents reported symptoms of depressive disorder in the last two weeks. This survey has been running since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and found an increased share of people reporting symptoms of depression during the first year of the pandemic. Symptoms of depression can include, but are not limited to, feelings of sadness and hopelessness, a loss of interest in things once found pleasurable, sleep disturbances, anxiety, tiredness, and a change in appetite. 

Differences in depression among men and women

Although rates of suicide are much higher among men than women in the United States, women are more likely to suffer from depression than men. Surveys from 2020 to 2023, found that women constantly reported symptoms of depressive disorder more often than men, although the difference varied from a few percentage points to decimal points. However, in 2021, around 10 percent of women reported having a major depressive episode in the past year, compared to six percent of men. Major depressive episodes are most common among women aged 18 to 25 years.

How many people receive treatment for depression?

In 2021, it was estimated that around 11.5 million people in the United States with a major depressive episode received treatment. The most common professionals seen for a major depressive episode were general practitioners or family doctors, psychiatrists or psychotherapists, and counselors. However, many people with depression and other mental health problems do not receive treatment for various reasons. In 2021, cost was the number one reason U.S. adults stated they did not receive the mental health treatment they needed.